Flat knitting machine



' A ril 28, 1936. w. HEINITZ FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 28,1936. H Z 2,038,735.

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw/ zm Affamey,

April 28, 193

w. HEINITZ 2,038,735

FLAT KNITTING MACHIiIE Fi led Jan. .23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 I UNITED STATES FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Woldemar Heinitz, ChemnitI, Germany, asslgnor to Schubert & Salzer Maschineni'abrik Aktiengesellschaft, ChemnitnGermany Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 3,165 In Germany February 3, 1934 Claims.

, The present invention relates to flat knitting machines and more particularly to flat knitting machines having a Jacquard patterning attachment comprising singly movable press pattern 5 elements as well as singly movable lace pattern elements.

The essence of the invention is that both kinds of pattern elements are not arranged in an overlapping position in slots of the bearing block,

but that the press pattern elements are situated at the one side of the bearing block and the lace pattern elements at the opposite side of the same bearing block in bearing slots. separated from each other. In this manner a far better arrangement of the pattern elements is possible, as now they cannot mutually aflfect each other.

It is further of great importance for the purpose of the invention, that the special pattern elements, used for press patternings and for lace patternings, are so arranged in the bearing block, that they are separately moved in such a manner, that always the head of one of these pattern elements only lies between the head of the knitting needles and the front edge of the bearing for the jack sinkers. I

In the manufacture of plain rows of loops or of plain loops in rows of loops having press patternings, the press pattern elements are, by means of selecting cams, brought into the upper position, while the lace pattern elements, not partaking in this patterning operation, remain in their lower position. In the manufacture oi. plain loops in rows of loops having lace patternings, on the contrary, the lace pattern elements are,

by means of selecting cams, brought into the upper position, whereas the press pattern elements, not taking a share of this patterning operation, remain in the lower position.

In the manufacture of press pattern loops,

the press pattern elements, as well as the lace pattern elements, not partaking inthis patteming operation, remain in the lower position. In the manufacture of lace pattern loops, the lace pattern elements, as well as the press pattern elements, not partaking in the patterning operation, remain in the lower position.

That is to say, the pattern elements for making press patternings as well as for making lace patternings are always selected in an upward di- 50 rection and always in a non-patterning sense.

For the selection of each of the press pattern elements and lace pattern elements required each time respectively, a selecting cam,is provided which may be shifted across these two pattern 5 elements into several different positions and which, depending on its position, selects, by means of correspondingly shaped projections or depressions, press pattern elements as well as lace pattern elements in the upward direction.

A further new feature of the present invention 5 is an intermediate position for these selecting cams into which these for loops not to be covered are brought by a common bar, simultaneously serving as return guide bar. In this position the bar brings the lace pattern elements in the upper 10 position, i. e. in the non-patternin position for making plain loops.

The selection between press pattern elements and lace pattern elements may, in this case, already be made during the transverse move- 15 ment of the selecting cams. The transverse movement of the selecting cams may, however, also be used to bring these pattern elements into a preparing intermediate position from which aselection may then be made by a movement of 20 l the selecting cams in a vertical direction with regard to the two pattern elements.

In the first case, the selecting cams, adapted to be shifted across the press pattern elements and lace pattern elements, are provided with 25 inclined surfaces at their projections or with depressions, by means of which, during the transverse movement already, a selection in an-upward direction is efiected from the press pattern elements as well as from the lace pattern 80 elements.

In the latter case, the selecting cams are brought into an intermediate position and then lifted together by means of a cam or the like,

whereby, depending upon their position at each 35 time, those elements of the press pattern elements and of the lace pattern elements are lifted into the upper position with the knitting needles of which patternings are not to be eflected,

Such a selection of the pattern elements is 40 advantageous, as an absolutely positive shifting of all the pattern elements is effected. Hereby the drawing motion of the Jacquard attachment, required to obtain the transverse movement of the selecting cams is reduced. Simultaneously the movement of the selecting cams is considerably released, as now the selecting cams need not any more, by their transverse movement, actuate, the pattern elements which. moreover, are provided with counteracting springs. By this means, a substantial release ofthe Jacquard threads is obtained.

The essence of this partof the invention is not altered, if the selecting cams were correspondingly divided and-a separately movable se- 66 ing also the accessories,

Figures 2-5 show the-positions of the pattern elements and of the selecting cams during performing .the different operations, i. e.,

Fig. 2 during the manufacture of plain rows of loops or plain loops in rows of loops having press patternings respectively during which operation press pattern elements lie between the head of the knitting needles and the front edge of the bearing for the jack sinkers,

Fig. 3 during the manufacture of press patter loops during which operation no pattern elements lie between the head of the knitting needles and the front edge of the bearing for the jack sinkers,

Fig. 4 during the manufacture of plain rows of loops or during the manufacture of plain loops in rows of loops having lace patternings respectively during which operation lace pattern elements lie between the head of the knitting needles and the front edge of the bearing for the jack sinkers, this position being the intermediate position of the selecting elements for effecting lace patternings,

Fig. 5 during the manufacture of lace patternings during which operation no pattern ele ments lie between the head of the knitting needles and the front edge of the bearing for the jack sinkers.

Figures 6-9 show e.,modified construction of the device according to the invention provided with selecting cams which are first shifted laterally and then lifted.

The positions of the several parts .of the device shown in Figures 6-9 correspond to the working positions of the several parts illustrated in Figures 2-5. Only the lower modified portion of the selecting cams is shown in these figures. The upper portion, representing the pattern elements, corresponds exactly to that shown in Figures 2-5.

Corresponding parts of the devices according to the two modifications are designated by the same reference letters.

' In the bearing block 1, arranged in well known manner in the flat knitting machine, .slots receiving the lace pattern elements are provided at the one side and slots receiving the press pattern elements are provided at the opposite side. A considerably better arrangement of the pattern elements is hereby possible and the different element cannot mutually affect each other during operation. The lace pattern elements and the press pattern elements may each be made in one piece,

are, however, as shown in Fig. 1, preferably subdivided. Each lace pattern element consists of the parts 2 and 3, and each press pattern elethat each subdivided lace pattern element 2, 3

as well as each subdivided press pattern element 4, 5 may be shifted as a unit in the bearing block I.

At the lower part 3 of the lace patternelements 2, 3 and at the lower part 5 of the press pattern elements 4, 5 hooks l0 and II respectively are provided for the connection of tension springs 12 and I 3 respectively which preferably are arranged in staggered relation for each of the two different kinds of pattern elements, so that they do not touch each other andv therefore cannot mutually affect each other.

The other ends of thesprings l2 and I3 are 'con-' nected to fixed portions I4 and I5 respectively of the bearing block I.'

In guides l6 and I1 respectively of the bearing block I bars l8 and [9 respectively are shiftably arranged. Springs, not shown in the drawings, act upon each of the bars l8 and I9 and tend to draw these bars downwardly. The bar I 8 bears against the lace pattern elements 2, 3 and the bar I9 bears against the press pattern elements 4, 5, thereby assisting the action of the springs l2 and l3.-

In a bearing 20, the jack sinkers 2| are arranged. 22 is the front edge of the bearing 20;

I 23 are the knock over bits and 24 is the bar in which the knitting needles 25 are fixed.

Below the bearing block i, the selecting earns 21 are provided in a bearing 26. These selecting cams may, in a well known manner, be shifted by the Jacquard device, not shown in the drawings. the bars l8 and [9 the pattern elements 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively are pressed against the selecting earns 21. According to the example shown in Figures 1-5, each selecting cam 21 is provided at its upper surface with two projections 28 and 29. The projection 28 has a single inclined surface 30 only, whereas the projection 29 is provided with two inclined surfaces 3|, 32. At the lower surface of each selecting cam 21 two projections 33 and 34 are provided with which a bar 35, adapted to be positively shifted in a well known manner in the bearing 26, may cooperate. Recesses 36 are provided in the upper surface of each selecting cam 21 with which springs 38, fixed in the bearing 31, are adapted to cooperate to safely hold the pattern elements in the adjusted position. The. general operation. of the pattern elements is as follows:

When all press pattern elements 4 are raised as shown in Figures 1 and'2, all needles are pressed and plain loops are'formed on all needles, and when selected press pattern elements 4 are not raised. the needles corresponding theretov form tuck loops. Also, when all lace pattern elements 2 are raised, all the lace points 39 are rendered inoperative, and when selected lace pattern elements 2 are not raised the points 3.9 corresponding thereto are operative to transfer loops from their associated needles.

The operation of the device-according to Figures 1-5 is as follows:

By means of the springs l2 and I3 and ting needles.

Car

Car

After completing each row of loops, the bar 35, serving as return guide bar, is shifted in a well known manner in the direction of the arrow to in Figures 1 and 2 and thereby engages the projection 34 of the selecting cams 21, whereby the latter are shifted in such a manner, that the press pattern elements 4, 5, actuated by. the spring controlled bar l9 and the springs I3, are moved upwardly along the inclined surface 30 of the projections 28 of the selecting cams 21, until they rest upon these projections 23. Simultaneously the lace pattern elements 2, 3 are moved upwardly along the inclined surface 32 of the projections 29 of the selecting cams 21, whereby the upper surface of the projections 29 is moved beneath the lace pattern elements 2, 3 and out of the range of same, so that, under the action of the spring controlled bar l9 and the springs l2, these lace pattern elements slide downwardly along the inclined surface 3| of the projections 29, until their lower ends rest upon the selecting cams 21.

During the formation of plain rows of loops or or of plain loops in rows of loops havingpress,

patternings, the single parts of the device occupy the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the head of the press pattern elements 4, 5 only lies between the head of the knitting needles 25 and the front edge 22 of the bearing 20 for the jack sinkers, whereas the lace pattern elements 2, 3, not partaking in this operation, remain in their lower position, i. e., in'a position in which their heads lie beneath the front edge 22 of the bearing 20.

During the formation of press pattern loops, the selecting earns 21 are actuated by the Jacquard device, not shown, during which operation the selecting cams are drawn from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3 required for effecting press patternings. The bar 35, bearing against the projection 34, is hereby also shifted and under the action of the springs l3, the press pattem-elements 4, 5 are moved downwardly along the inclined surface 39 of the projection 29, and the lace pattern elements 2, 3 are moved upwardly along the inclined surface 3| over the projections 29. and downwardly along the inclined surface 32, there-, by returning into their lower position. The knitting needles 25 now cannot cooperate with the press pattern. elements 4, 5, so that press pattern loops are formed at the corresponding knit- Noneof the two sets of pattern elements, therefore,- lies between the head of the knitting needles 25 and the front edge 22 of the bearing 20 for the jack sinkers.

During the manufacture of lace pattern loops, the return guide bar -is shifted in the direction of the arrow 1 in Figures 1 and 4 against the projections 33 of the selecting cams 21, thereby bringing the pattern elements in the position shown in Fig. 4. During this movement of the bar 35, the lace pattern elements 2, 3 are moved upwardly along-the inclined surface 3| of the projections 29, and the press pattern elements 4, 5 are moved downwardly along the inclined surface 30 of the projections 23. In this position, the lace pattern elements 2, 3 occupy their highest position and their heads lie betweenthe front edge 22 of the bearing 20 and the head of the knitting needles 25, whereas the press pattern elements 4, 5, not partaking in'this patteming operation, occupy their lowest position in which their heads also lie underneath the front edge 22 of the bearing 20. In this position of the several parts, plain rows of loops or plain loops in rows of loops having lace patternings respectively are knitted, while both kinds of pattern elements, brought into the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of the selecting cams, remain in their lower position. By the lace pattern elements 4, the lace points 39 are now no more intercepted in this position of the pattern elements, so that lace patternings are obtained at these knitting needles. During the formation of lace patternings also none of the two sets of pattern elements lies between the head of the knitting needles 25 and the front edge 22 of the bearing 20 for the jack sinkers.

The construction shown in Figures 6-9 differs from the construction just described in this, that the bearing 40, carrying the selecting cams 45, is provided at the end of the lever 4| which is pivoted upon a shaft 42 arranged in the frame of the knitting machine, not shown in the drawings. In this modification also, each of the selecting cams 45 has two upwardly directed projections 43 and 44 which cooperate with the lace pattern 3 elements 2, 3 and the press pattern elements 4, 5 respectively. Both of these projections 43 and 44, however, are provided with side walls vertically extending towards the selecting cams 45. If the pattem elements are to be adjusted by the Jacquard device, the bearing is swung downwardly around the shaft 42, so that the projections 43, 44 are moved out of the path of the pattern elements. Now the shifting of the selecting cams 45 by means of the Jacquard device is effected, whereupon the bearing 40 is pressed upwardly by means of a cam 46 or the like in the direction of the arrow zin Fig. 6, thereby bringing the pattern elements 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively into the desired positions.

For the rest, the operation of this device is exactly the same as that described above with reference to Figures 1-5, and the positions of the lace pattern elements 2, 3, the press pattern elements 4, 5 and the selecting cams respectively in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 correspond to those shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

mentioned already, the lace pattern elements and the press pattern elements may each consist of one piece only. The pattern elements may also be of any other construction. For the purpose of the invention it makes no difference, whether the press pattern elements are constructed in the manner shown, or whether they are provided with a special projecting pressing edge, or whether the lace pattern elements are, for the purpose of lying with their intercepting points as close as possible to the knitting needles, offset at the side opposite the knitting needles, or whether the width of the lace pattern elements is reduced for a measure corresponding to the offset portion.

What I claim is: v I

1. In a flat knitting machine having a Jacquard attachment comprising singly movable press pattern elements and singly movable lace pattern elements, a bearing block, a needle bar,- knitting needles carried by said bar, a bearing above said bearing block, jack sinkers arranged in said bearing, lace points adapted to cooperate with said knitting needles, press pattern elements shiftably arranged in slots at one side of said bearing block, lace pattern elements shiftably arranged in slots at the opposite side of said bearing block and selecting cams actuated by the Jacquard device, the arrangement being such, that one selecting cam is providedfor each press pattern element and lace pattern element, se lecting said pattern elements in an upward direction and bringing them in a position corresponding to thenon-patterning position.

. a selecting cam for each press pattern element and lace pattern element arranged in said hearing, means for shifting said selecting cams across said pattern elements into three different positions, and projections formed at said selecting sinkers, adapted-to cooperate with said pattern elements to select from said press pattern elements and from said lace pattern elements in accordance with the position of said selecting sinkers.

4. In a flat knitting machine having a Jacquard attachment comprising singly movable press pattern elements and singly movable lace pattern elements, a bearing block, a needle bar, knitting needles carried by said bar, a bearing above said bearing block, jack cams arranged in said bearing, lace points adapted to cooperate with said knitting needles, press pattern elements shiftably arranged in slots at one side of said bearing block, lace pattern elements shiftably arranged in slots at the opposite side of said bearing block, a bearing below said bearing block, a selecting cam for each press pattern element and lace pattern element arranged in said bearing and actuated by the Jacquard device, a projection at the upper surface of said selecting cam having two inclined surfaces, a secondprojection provided at the upper surface of I said selecting cam, near the free end of the latter, having one inclined surface only facing the free end of the said selecting cam, other projections provided in spaced relation at the lower surface of said selecting cam and a bar, serving as return guide bar, shiftably arranged in said bearing for said selecting cams and adapted to cooperate with said downwardly extending projections of said selecting cams to coact with said Jacquard device in shifting said selecting cams, to bring them into an intermediate position before they occupy their operating position due to the pull effected by said Jacquard device, the whole arrangement being such, that, during press patterning and during lace patterning, said press pattern elements and said lace pattern elements remain in their lower position out of the range of the head of said knitting needles and said lace points respectively, i. e. that both pattern elements lie outside the space between said knitting needles and the front edge of said bearing for said jack sinkers, while, during the manufacture of plain rows of loops or plain loops in rows of loops having press patternings, said press pattern elements lie in the path of the heads of said knitting needles and said lace pattern elements lie below said bearing for said jack sinkers, whereas, during the manufacture of plain loops in rows of loops having lace patternings, said lace pattern elements lie in the range of said lace points and said press pattern elements lieunderneath said bearing for said jack sinkers, that is to say, that, at a time the side walls of which extend vertically to said selecting cam;

WOLDEMAR HEINITZ. 

